Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Psychology and Sociology

Understanding Organizational Culture

Culture encompasses the fundamental assumptions shared by members of a community. These presumptions, shared thoughts, meanings, and values create a backdrop for action, often taken as obvious and undisputed.

Key Components of Culture

Analyzing culture involves understanding its components and defining features that make it unique:

• Appearance: Fixed aspects of organization and decoration, including the structuring of space.
• Patterns of Behavior: Systematic collective life within the organization.
• Language: Use of metaphors, stories, legends, and myths.
• Implicit Rules: Unwritten norms and standards governing conduct.
• Values: Used to judge facts, actions, and people.
• Assumptions: Basic beliefs shared by members of

The Science of Administration

Administration is a factual science focused on organizations. It involves specific techniques and methods to achieve operational efficiency.

It encompasses principles, standards, and procedures for effective organizational management. Beyond explaining organizational behavior, administration provides rules, norms, and procedures to operate and transform organizations.

The Need for Administration

Administration is a natural and essential aspect of all human organizations. Historically, organizations have required control over activities like accounting, finance, and marketing. Effective decision-making is crucial for achieving goals efficiently. Therefore, organizations develop strategies and methods to facilitate... Continue reading "Science and Technology in Administration" »

Research Methodologies in Communication

Data Collection Methods

Field Work

Advantages: Rich, deep, flexible insights into real-life situations.

Limitations: Limited generalizability due to small community focus.

Surveys/Polls

Advantages: Large sample sizes, easy quantification and comparison, facilitates data analysis.

Limitations: Limited qualitative information, potential for dishonesty, lack of flexibility and nuance, superficial insights.

Laboratory Experiments

Advantages: Replicable, controlled variables, easy generalization.

Limitations: Artificial setting, difficult extrapolation to real life, potential for experimental bias.

Life Stories/Interviews

Advantages: Rich, in-depth information, allows study of evolving actions and beliefs, close to everyday... Continue reading "Communication Synergies & Intercultural Communication" »